Severe neonatal jaundice: is it a rare event in Australia?

Hyperbilirubinaemia is common in the newborn period, and while the vast majority of babies are unaffected, significant neurological impairment remains a risk associated with extremely high levels of bilirubin. There is concern internationally that the number of babies affected by severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia may be increasing. This review describes the most current published data pertaining to the incidence and causes of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia in order to determine whether concern regarding the possible re-emergence of kernicterus in Australia is warranted. Seven incidence studies conducted internationally between 1988 and 2005 identify an estimated incidence of severe neonatal jaundice of between 7.1 and 45 per 100,000 births and of kernicterus at 0.4-2.7. Major pathophysiological causes or associations include ABO and other blood group incompatibility, glucose-6-phoshate-dehydrogenase deficiency, infection and haemolysis of other causes including spherocytosis. Other factors associated with poor outcomes include prematurity, male gender, ethnicity, breastfeeding and early hospital discharge. The management of severe neonatal jaundice requires multifaceted risk quantification in addition to the availability of adequate surveillance, particularly in the context of early hospital discharge. It is of concern that currently there is a paucity of incidence data in Australia relating to this potentially devastating yet generally preventable condition. Therefore, a surveillance study has been initiated through the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit. It is anticipated that these data will accurately define the incidence in Australia and hopefully guide strategies to prevent a condition that we may have prematurely considered to be of historical interest only.